Man charged with online 'grooming'

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A middle-aged Melbourne man has been charged with using the
internet to "groom" a teenage girl, in what is believed to be the
first time new Federal legislation has been used.

The 54-year-old from the suburb of Endeavour Hills appeared in
the Melbourne Magistrates Court this week charged under new laws
against predatory sexual behaviour on the internet which were
introduced in March.

The new offences include using the internet to groom or procure
a child under 16 years old and have a penalty of up to 15 years
imprisonment.

The man was arrested after detectives from the Victorian and
Australian Capital Territory police searched a Melbourne house
earlier this week.

It is alleged that the man made contact through the internet
with a female high school student in the ACT several months
ago.

Detective Superintendent Leanne Close, head of the Territory
Investigation Group, said the investigation followed concerns
raised by the girl's family in the ACT.

Inquiries are continuing about whether there was any physical
contact between the man and the girl.

Close said the man would be prosecuted under commonwealth
legislation specifically introduced to govern online grooming.

She said the arrest, during National Child Protection Week,
highlighted the indicators parents need to be aware of which showed
their children were at risk.

"There are real dangers associated with predators interacting
with children through the internet and mobile phones," Close
said.

"There are some very simple steps parents can take, such as
being aware of the programs and files on their computers, or
installing filtering software, to guard against their children
becoming victims of online crime."

Under the legislation, online grooming is defined as exploiting
the anonymity of telecommunications services such as the internet
to win the trust of a child as a first step towards the future
sexual abuse of that child.

The man faces five charges of using the internet to
groom/procure a child under 16, and will appear in court again in
November.

Close said the man was offered bail under strict conditions,
including not using the internet or making contact with the
victim.